While the macaron got its start during the renaissance, the Italian kitchens have been pumping out these almond paste circles of goodness since the early 1400s. And now, here in America, we have joined the macaron craze!

Macaron making is not for the faint at heart. I took a class at Sur La Table once that guided us through making macarons and it was not easy! And even if you do everything correctly, the wrong weather conditions could still cause them not to come out correctly. So I'm always impressed when I see beautiful, perfectly smooth macarons from local artisans.

One of my favorites is Whimsy Bites. She always has the most unique flavors and designs and I love the assorted boxes that she comes out with every couple of months or so. My favorite flavors currently are the fruity pebbles, salted caramel pecan, and caramel apple.

If you'd like to try some of her yummy treats, you can order directly on her website or head to the Alvin Farmer's Market, where she sells them both packaged and individually.